Derek Lively II dunks at the Nike Peach Jam Competition in North Augusta, South Carolina in July.
John Lopez
To its usual star-studded recruiting class, Duke has added two big men who are expected to play key roles on its basketball team this season.
The fact that one is 7-foot-1 and the other is 6-foot-11 and both are considered centers isn’t a problem for Duke’s coaching staff or the players themselves.
Because Dereck Lively and Kyle Filipowski chose Duke because they wanted to play together.
The team’s summer practice only drove the points home further.
“This is exactly what we expected because we are interchangeable,” he said. .”
The 215-pound Lively arrived at Duke as the #1 recruit in the 2022 class. Filipowski also had a five-star rating and was in fourth place.
I’m confident they can work together to help Duke maintain his traditional level of success in John Shyer’s first year as Blue Devils head coach after Mike Krushevski’s retirement. There is
Last season, the Blue Devils won the ACC Regular Season Championship with a 32-7 record and made it to the Final Four, but they used 7-1 center Mark Williams on the inside and a colorful 6-10 record. I used forward Paolo Banchero on the inside and out.
However, Williams was the more traditional center. His main reserve He was 6-9 Theo He John as well.
Lively comes with a defensive reputation as a shot blocker. Williams has performed exceptionally well while being named the ACC’s Defensive His Player of the Year. But Lively has many other features.
“Derek fits the modern big man profile,” said Shire. “He can run the floor, he can finish on the rim, he’s a good pick-and-roll player, he can pop or he can run the rim and be a threat. , he’s elite.”
On defense, Lively has the motor skills to check guards, forwards and centers. This allows Duke to allow players to switch guards across the court without worrying about mismatches.
He is expected to be the rim protector Duke lost when Williams, a first-round draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets last June, moved to the NBA.
Filipowski will be there, too, to help protect the rim and grab the rebound.
On offense, we are confident the Blue Devils will interact enough to remain a high-scoring team.
Both can shoot 3 points. Both can score in lane. Both can floor the ball and beat defenders to the rim.
“He can put the ball on the floor very well,” said Lively. “He can get past shots. He can get past players. Knowing he can do that, my defenders will help. So I shoot too.” When I have the ball, the guards help me, so we just play each other.
Of course, this isn’t just a two-person show. Duke also has key contributions from 6-6 freshman forward Darik Whitehead, 6-5 freshman guard Tyrese Proctor, 6-6 transfer Jacob Grandison, and 6-3 junior guard Jeremy Roach. are planning
Another transfer, 6-10 center Ryan Young, will also help in the post.
Duke’s freshman big man, in particular, is poised to grow.
“Duke’s offense,” Filipowski said, “is built for a versatile type of player.”
With so many options, being unselfish becomes very important.
“Just making sure we’re not being selfish and just making sure we keep the ball moving,” Lively said. “It’s going to be a great year.”
Steve Wiseman has covered Duke Athletics for the Durham Herald-Sun and Raleigh News & Observer since 2010. He placed second in both beat writing and breaking news in the 2019 Associated Press Sports Editors National Contest. He has worked for The Herald (Biloxi, Michigan), The Charlotte Observer, Daily Records in Hickory (North Carolina), and has covered beats including NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New. Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina Track and Field, SC General Assembly. He has won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.
